The Engine of Regional Integration
The WAES Secretariat serves as the permanent administrative and technical body responsible for implementing the Summit's outcomes and coordinating future editions. Established to ensure continuity beyond the biennial convenings, the Secretariat transforms high-level political commitments into measurable, operational reality.
It functions as a "living policy engine" anchored in technical rigor, ensuring that West African states move from rhetoric to a system of measurable delivery and accountable growth.
Our Core Mandate
The Secretariat operates under five strategic pillars:
Summit Coordination
Organizing the biennial Summit under the direction of the host country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure high-level participation and regional ownership.
Policy & Research
Producing regional economic reports, policy briefs, and technical papers on trade, infrastructure, youth employment, and digital innovation.
Regional Integration Support
Assisting member states in 'domesticating' regional policies (such as the Garki Declaration and AfCFTA protocols) through inter-ministerial coordination.
Project Facilitation
Supporting the design and execution of cross-border developments, including infrastructure corridors and logistics integration.
Strategic Alignment
Ensuring West Africa presents a unified voice in global economic forums and that regional goals align with national development plans.
Governance Structure
A Public-Private Economic Governance Platform
The Secretariat operates through a dual-structured model to align government policy with private sector reality:
The Summit Council
A standing body comprising designated representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance of each member state.
Regional Economic Working Group
An independent body of sector experts, business leaders, and civil society stakeholders nominated through a consultative process.
Technical Planning Committee
Composed of focal persons from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of participating states, this committee provides oversight and guides inter-summit activities.
Leadership Model
The Secretariat is led by a rotational Executive Secretary, appointed from the host country of the current Summit cycle, ensuring shared leadership and regional equity.
Key Deliverables
Annual Scorecards
The Secretariat publishes annual reports to track implementation progress across agreed priority sectors.
The Prosperity Tracker
A 'Post-Summit Prosperity Tracker' is issued to outline coordination timelines and priority follow-ups for the three months following each Summit.
Compliance Index
A monitoring tool linked to member access to regional infrastructure funding, ensuring alignment with the Garki Declaration.
Coordination with Regional Bodies
The WAES Secretariat does not supplant existing bodies. Instead, it functions as a technical commission that supports the ECOWAS Commission, the AfCFTA Secretariat, and regional International Financial Institutions (IFIs). It provides a neutral, technocratic space to accelerate the implementation of integration policies.